Sports

Basketball

ny-nba2010-sg

They chose Chris Bosh over him, and there can't possibly be a greater motivational tool than that for Amar'e Stoudemire. <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron James</a> stuck to his side all through All-Star Weekend last season in <a href="/topics/Dallas%2C_Texas">Dallas</a>, trumpeting the idea of the Cavaliers making a trade to acquire the league's best power forward. But in the end, it was Bosh who was preening with <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron</a> and Dwyane Wade on that stage in <a href="/topics/Miami">Miami</a> that Friday night in July - and Stoudemire alone in New York, suddenly carrying the weight of a desperate franchise on a surgically repaired left knee.
"I wasn't teaming up with those guys as far as communicating with them and figuring out where they were going to go,'' Stoudemire said in a recent conversation with Newsday. "My decision was based on me and my family. I wasn't making a decision on LeBron, Dwyane, Chris and those guys.''
Instead of following, Stoudemire chose to lead. He calls himself "a pioneer'' in the Knicks' long-awaited revival. If this is to be the starting point of an eventual return to elite status for the Knicks, Stoudemire will be viewed as the first building block, the player who took on the challenge rather than avoiding it.
"You had to break the dam and Amar'e broke it,'' Knicks coach <a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Mike D'Antoni</a> said. "It was paramount for the organization for somebody to make the first step. He did it. But I think also, much more important is a lot of guys can say they want to be here and talk the stuff. But then walking it is different. He's walking it.''
He's walking it without a limp - after 82 games plus 16 in the playoffs last season, the knee is quite stable - but with a chip on his shoulder. He's walking it with a swagger that emotes confidence with every post-dunk roar and every glare that follows a rejection. He has taken to slapping the ball out of an opponent's hand after a whistle, as if to emphasize that it's his now. He tries to goaltend post-whistle shots so opponents can't get the satisfaction of a rhythm-inducing swish.
It's the same type of intentional meanness that Kevin Garnett put on display when he arrived in <a href="/topics/Boston">Boston</a> three years ago. But KG joined forces with two other stars, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, and the Celtics were immediate championship contenders (and by winning the title in their first year together, set the bar very high for Miami's trio).
Stoudemire comes to New York as the new Madison Square Guardian, the lone star, the first current All-<a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> player (he was a second-team selection in 2009-10) the Knicks have had since <a href="/topics/Patrick_Ewing">Patrick Ewing</a> (1996-97).
The goal, of course, is to do for Stoudemire what the Knicks never really did for <a href="/topics/Patrick_Ewing">Ewing</a>: bring in more star-quality talent to become a legitimate championship contender.
Stoudemire isn't shy about recruiting; during the summer, he openly discussed talking with players such as Tony Parker and Carmelo Anthony about coming to New York. Both, according to people close to the players, are very interested.
Then came Anthony's wedding, which Stoudemire attended. He smiled when another star player looking for a LeBron-like address upgrade, Chris Paul, grabbed the microphone and talked about getting himself and Carmelo to join Stoudemire to create "our own Big Three in New York.'' 
Two-thirds of that mission could be completed sometime this season if the Knicks can complete a trade to acquire Anthony from the <a href="/topics/Denver_Nuggets">Denver Nuggets</a>. Stoudemire publicly downplays the situation, but make no mistake about it: He's very much involved behind the scenes. But he also is cognizant of the young roster around him and how important it is to get off to a good start so the Knicks remain a choice destination.
"We can't really focus on what else is out there and we can't worry about somebody who is not with us right now,'' he said. "The team we have, we have to be ready to play.''
D'<a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Antoni</a>, after two losing seasons in as many years with the Knicks, can't afford to wait for any more help. Stoudemire, who turns 27 Nov. 16, doesn't want to wait, either. He left a playoff team in Phoenix with a future Hall of Fame point guard in <a href="/topics/Steve_Nash">Steve Nash</a> to be part of something potentially special in New York. And he did it, by his calculations, at the right time.
"I think this year is going to be the starting point of my prime,'' he said.
He has been a five-time All-Star. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2003. He has been named to the All-NBA team four times, once on the first team (2006-07). He has not averaged less than 20 points per game in seven of his last eight seasons (and that one season he didn't reach that level, 2005-06, he played in only three games because of a knee injury). 
With James and Wade, two of the league's top scorers during the last few years, now sharing the ball and Stoudemire being featured in the Knicks' offense, it is conceivable that he could lead the NBA in scoring this season. And if he does lead the Knicks to a playoff berth, MVP is not an overstatement.
But there's so much going against him, too, with the young roster with unproven talent and, of course, his first experience without Nash in six years. The clock already is ticking on the Knicks' $100-million investment.
"It's going to take time,'' Stoudemire said. "It's all about staying healthy and having longevity. I'm still fairly young and I've got a lot of years left in this league. We should get to a championship-caliber level in the near future.''
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and <a href="/topics/Cablevision">Cablevision</a>. Cablevision owns Newsday.

New York Knicks

SPAMARE24

Stoudemire is on a mission with Knicks

The waiting was supposed to be over this season. Two years of capology and excavating the payroll are not supposed to result in a pause and stammer from Amar'e Stoudemire, the lone marquee player the Knicks signed with all that salary-cap room, when he's asked about the playoffs. 
"Last year, the Knicks' record wasn't that good , so anything better than that, to me, would be a step in the right direction," Stoudemire said with painstaking caution. "But again, playoffs is something we're looking forward to and we're trying to get to that point." 
Can they finally get there in this season of the seven-year itch? It has been that long since the Knicks were last a playoff team in 2004, when they were swept by the Nets. 
The Heat was built in a day, but the Knicks' renaissance is going to take a little while longer. The cap flexibility is there for the next two summers - if not sooner (read: <a href="/topics/Carmelo_Anthony">Carmelo Anthony</a>) - to add players to upgrade the roster to be able to take on <a href="/topics/Miami">Miami</a> Thrice. But for now, the aim is a bit lower: elbowing through the mediocre bottom two-thirds of the East to snare one of the final playoff spots. 
It's certainly within reason to think the Knicks can accomplish this. They have a bona fide All-<a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> player in Stoudemire, arguably the best power forward in the league, who will do what he's done his entire career: put up gaudy scoring numbers. Until third-year forward <a href="/topics/Danilo_Gallinari">Danilo Gallinari</a> proves he can score consistently, it'll be primarily a one-man game on most nights. 
"Pretty good one-man game, though, isn't it?" coach <a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Mike D'Antoni</a> said with as much optimism as he could muster. 
That all depends on how effective the Knicks can be at point guard with <a href="/topics/Raymond_Felton">Raymond Felton</a>, who said he has watched video of <a href="/topics/Steve_Nash">Steve Nash</a>, the former two-time MVP who was tailor-made for D'<a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Antoni</a>'s Seven Seconds or Less system. Felton isn't the shooter that Nash is, but he can score, and Nash video shows many ways to do it other than perimeter shots. 
"I definitely learned a lot from looking at it," Felton said. "But at the same time, I still got to do it my way." 
His way will work as long as it's the fastest way. The Knicks have to play at an up-tempo pace as much as possible if they're going to cover up their deficiencies against the elite teams and overwhelm weaker teams. Felton and second-year guard <a href="/topics/Toney_Douglas">Toney Douglas</a> will be the sparkplugs at both ends of the floor. 
The presence of 7-1 Russian rookie <a href="/topics/Timofey_Mozgov">Timofey Mozgov</a> also should make a difference, if just by his length alone. If you remember, the Knicks had 6-9 <a href="/topics/David_Lee">David Lee</a> as their center for most of the last two seasons. <a href="/topics/Wilson_Chandler">Wilson Chandler</a> returns to offer his usual versatility and 6-11 <a href="/topics/Anthony_Randolph">Anthony Randolph</a> is a project who, if he develops, could have a major impact at both ends of the floor. 
There remains a hole at shooting guard, where Douglas, Chandler, veteran <a href="/topics/Roger_Mason_Jr.">Roger Mason Jr</a>. and even impressive rookie Landry Fields will get a chance to claim minutes. D'<a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Antoni</a> said he wants to play as much as a 10-man rotation most nights, but with so many new faces, roles still need to be established. 
It's possible, D'<a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Antoni</a> said, that he could "tinker all the way into January" with the lineup. By then, <a href="/topics/Kelenna_Azubuike">Kelenna Azubuike</a>, who is recovering from knee surgery, could be ready to play. 
It is at that point of the season that the Knicks might be ready to make the long-awaited playoff push. The trade deadline arrives Feb. 24; by then, the result will be the added firepower of Carmelo Anthony or the reality that the Knicks must dance with the girl they brought with them. 
Either way, the result has to be a playoff berth for them to reach their goals. 
"That's our yardstick this year," D'<a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Antoni</a> said. "I would love to be able to downplay it and we will have some rough spots. The only thing I ask is, we've just got to be a little bit patient early . . . But yeah, I think we've got enough talent here. We should do it." 
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, MSG and <a href="/topics/Cablevision">Cablevision</a>. <a href="/topics/Cablevision">Cablevision</a> owns Newsday.

SPKNIX24

Knicks still missing pieces but are playoff contender

Danilo Gallinari shoots over Celtics center Kendrick Perkins

The biggest story of the new NBA season won't have anything to do with Miami's Big Three or Boston's Old Three or even the Lakers' attempt to Three-Peat. Instead, it'll involve three of the most powerful entities in the sport: commissioner David <a href="/topics/David_Stern">Stern</a>, union executive director Billy <a href="/topics/Billy_Hunter">Hunter</a> and the collective-bargaining agreement.
And the major issues between them are that dark cloud in the distance. 
The issues threaten the momentum of a league that seemed to be open all summer, with the free-agency season offering almost as much drama and intrigue as the postseason and setting up a highly anticipated 2010-11. Stern is predicting the NBA will have "our best season ever" while also outlining all of the reasons why the league can't go another year under the same CBA.
"I would say the league is viable as long as you have owners who want to continue funding losses," Stern said during his annual preseason conference call with the media Friday. "But it's not on the long term a sustainable business model that we're happy to be supporting."
Without discussing the hundreds of millions that they're squabbling over and none of us regular people can comprehend, let's put it in simple terms: Players make money off the NBA each season. Most owners do not.
The owners, who essentially hire Stern to represent their best interests as a league, want that to change.
And that's why, aside from failing to use the phrase "cost certainty" in his address, Stern was reading directly off of <a href="/topics/Gary_Bettman">Gary Bettman</a>'s script from 2004-05, when the NHL shut down for an entire season over a CBA dispute that <a href="/topics/Gary_Bettman">Bettman</a>, once Stern's understudy with the NBA, eventually won by an overwhelming rout. At the time, Bettman spoke proudly of exponential growth by the NHL but also gave stern warnings that the cap-less CBA his league had in place was sending the NHL hurtling toward financial doom. Bettman even allowed talk of contraction - of dissolving weak franchises to shrink the league - to exist.
Stern on Friday called contraction for the NBA "a subject that will be on the table with the players as we look to see what's the optimum way to present our game and are there cities and teams that cannot make it in the current economic environment."
Of the idea of eliminating franchises (as if anyone would miss the <a href="/topics/Memphis_Grizzlies">Memphis Grizzlies</a>), understand this is scare tactic No. 1: Contraction means fewer teams. Fewer teams means fewer jobs available to players, which means fewer players are in the NBA. That's not something the NBPA, the union that represents NBA players, should prefer over the alternative: the same amount of jobs, just less money to go around.
But it's also rhetoric from the league, just as much as it was, in Stern's words, "classic negotiating rhetoric" when the NBPA after Friday's session issued a statement from Hunter that said the union "unequivocally rejected" the league's proposal.
The league really aimed high with this one: a hard-cap system and a 40 percent rollback in player salaries.
The NBA knew this most recent concept would be rejected because it was purposely overzealous. You don't make your best offer until the 11th hour.
Sometimes, as in the case of the NHL in 2004-05, you make it in the 11th hour and the union refuses to take it until the 25th hour, after an entire season is lost. No one believes Hunter will gamble as <a href="/topics/Bob_Goodenow">Bob Goodenow</a> did then, but Hunter already is instigating the fight.
"If the owners maintain their position," the NBPA said in the statement, "it will inevitably result in a lockout and the cancellation of part or all of the 2011-12 season."
History has taught us that this aggressive attempt by the league to put greater control on payroll spending will not be easily accomplished. It might have to come at a cost to both sides in the form of a truncated season in 2011-12 or, perhaps, the total elimination of the NBA for an entire winter.
If you don't think the league would allow it to happen, look to the NHL as an example. The standard already has been set.
Enjoy the game while you can.

News

SPHAHN24

Hahn: Think NBA won't have shutdown? Ask NHL

Board of Governors Basketball

When LeBron <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">James</a> took his talents to South Beach, he took the soul of a city with him.
Lost is the 10-story billboard once displayed proudly in downtown Cleveland that showed James - head tilted back, arms spread wide - and proclaimed, "We Are All Witnesses."
After being witness for the past seven years to a once-in-a-generation type of player who happened to be a homegrown talent, the city of Cleveland now is witness to the biggest free-agent defection in the history of sports.
Shortly after the reigning two-time MVP decided to leave the Cavaliers to sign with the <a href="/topics/Miami_Heat">Miami Heat</a>, a notoriously gray city became even more so with the lingering smoke from the bridges burned by James and the jerseys burned by his former fans.
After all, James' extensive wingspan, once so prominently featured on the fallen billboard, branches out into facets that stretch far beyond the 94 feet of a basketball court. A tale of two cities shows what the city LeBron left has lost, and what the one he joins has found. 
 
THE ORGANIZATION
Lost is the face of the franchise, the league and the city who singlehandedly raised the value of the Cavs from $258 million in 2003 to the fifth most valuable team in the league at $476 million in 2009, according to Forbes. Yet within the Cavs organization, owner <a href="/topics/Dan_Gilbert">Dan Gilbert</a>'s scathing open letter notwithstanding, there is no panic, no trace of an "I just got dumped by the prettiest girl in school" complex.
"We will head into the start of this season with a fan base that is excited for the future and confident in how we approach everything on the court and off," Len Komoroski, the president of the Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena, said in an e-mail. "We continue to operate with our special culture that guides everything we do and we look forward, not backward."
Those in the organization say the city has shown great support for the team, which has set a franchise record for total number of season tickets as well as renewals. Those numbers, however, do not reflect the impact of James' departure because the renewal began months before the airing of "The Decision." 
Komoroski said he doesn't expect a drop in season tickets for the 2011-12 season but that the Cavs won't take anything for granted. "It would be premature to predict something like that, because we have a whole season ahead of us before we get to that point," Komoroski said. "We understand we will have to earn the support, just as we have in the past." 
Found is a walking bailout plan that Democrats and Republicans would agree on. 
The Heat sold out of season tickets so quickly that the organization fired its entire season-ticket sales staff. Why employ the salesman when there is no product left to sell? Yet capitalizing on season-ticket sales represents only a small piece of the pie.
"First, obviously, is trying to find out a winning strategy in terms of ticket sales, which we think we've done," said Eric Woolworth, the Heat's president of business operations. "And then to capitalize in the traditional corporate partnerships and sponsorship world. 
"We are getting ready to announce a series of new and exciting partnerships that are pretty significant. There's this aspect that's completely new for us, which is international interest and how you capitalize on it. Our website traffic has increased tenfold from this time last year and almost half of it is coming from overseas. We are spending a lot of time thinking about how we can try to monetize that interest."
THE CABLE COMPANY
Lost is the reason to tune in. Take the main character off a hit television show and it's only natural that the ratings, along with the advertising revenue, will drop. <a href="/topics/Henry_Ford">Henry Ford</a>, the senior vice president and general manager of Fox Sports <a href="/topics/Ohio">Ohio</a>, which carries Cavs games in Cleveland, says the perception of James' departure is worse than the reality and that 90 percent of advertisers have renewed so far.
"The Cavs led the <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> in local ratings for the past two years," <a href="/topics/Henry_Ford">Ford</a> said. "It's only natural that there might be some decline. However, there's going to be far more interest in this team than some people think." 
Found is an attraction that turns a preseason opener on Sun Sports into the network's highest-rated Heat game since 1998, according to Nielsen television household ratings in the Miami/<a href="/topics/Fort_Lauderdale">Fort Lauderdale</a> market.
"Without a doubt, it's huge for us," said Steve Tello, senior vice president and general manager of Fox Sports <a href="/topics/Florida">Florida</a> &amp; Sun Sports. "It creates tremendous opportunities to grow our business and provides unprecedented value for both existing and new advertisers. The phones have not stopped ringing . . . We've also signed several major sponsorship deals, so yes, we expect that high interest level to continue."
 
THE LOCAL BUSINESS
Lost is a player who threw the only party in town, leaving for a place that hardly needs another excuse to party. 
"I know there are a lot of people that think that all of the entertainment and restaurant hospitality spots around the Cleveland area are going to fold," said Christine Connell, general manager of Flannery's Pub, which is across the street from Quicken Loans Arena. "I certainly think it will have an impact but I'm not expecting it to be drastic."
Found is an attraction that can singlehandedly boost the local economy. When a manager at Tradewinds Bar and Grill, who didn't want to be named, was asked what went through his mind when he heard James would play 41 regular-season games across the street at <a href="/topics/American_Airlines">American Airlines</a> Arena, his response was simply: "Money."
"There's been more foot traffic, more flow of people coming through," he said. "Obviously, we have increased our staff, especially on days of games, and increased my purchasing. We are hoping it's going to have a lot of impact."
 
THE MERCHANDISER
Lost is a retailer's dream. Found is a player who could sell sand to a Miami beachgoer.
The NBA doesn't release sales units, but the only indication one needs to understand the shift in James' merchandising power is the basic principle of supply and demand. A stroll through the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan shows that the Heat has replaced the Cavs as one of the league's alpha dogs in terms of merchandise. 
Of the limited amount of Cavs merchandise available for purchase, a majority is discounted LeBron items rotting away on a rack like an outdated fashion fad. 
Meanwhile, a recent study by Princeton Retail Analysis, which analyzes sports merchandising, showed that Heat merchandise has sold five times what it did at this point last season. 
EPILOGUE
While the Cavs now are viewed with compassion after having their championship hopes drop quicker than James' Q-rating, the Heat has become the league's new reviled franchise destined for perennial contention. 
Just days away from the dawning of the post-LeBron Era in Cleveland, the Cavaliers must replace the irreplaceable, and in Miami, the Heat must imagine the unimaginable.
Lost is the hope. Found is LeBron James.

SPLEBRON24

LeBron lost & found: Cleveland hit hard, Miami thriving

EASTERN CONFERENCE STORYLINES 
1. IT COULD BE RECORD-BREAKING DOMINANCE BY MIAMI THRICE: 
The <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> hasn't seen this much all-star talent -- in its prime -- in one lineup since <a href="/topics/Wilt_Chamberlain">Wilt Chamberlain</a>, <a href="/topics/Jerry_West">Jerry West</a> and <a href="/topics/Elgin_Baylor">Elgin Baylor</a> teamed up on the Lakers. That team didn't immediately produce championships and this one might not either. But considering how much mediocrity still exists in the East, the Heat have a very good chance to challenge the Bulls' record of 72 wins. Yes, we said it. 
2. WHY JOHN WALL WON'T WIN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: 
<a href="/topics/John_Wall">John</a> <a href="/topics/John_Wall">Wall</a> is a dynamo who will cause a lot of neck strains in the league this season as he blows by defenders and explodes to the basket. Defenses will play him to shoot jumpers, much like teams defend <a href="/topics/Derrick_Rose">Derrick Rose</a>, but he should still be an effective player. The issue is not as much what he doesn't do, but what redshirt rookie <a href="/topics/Blake_Griffin">Blake Griffin</a> does for the Clippers. Griffin, who missed all of last season with an injury, is considered a rookie this season and has been a force in the preseason. 
3. KNICKS-NETS RIVALRY WILL INVOLVE BATTLE FOR CARMELO: 
New Nets owner <a href="/topics/Mikhail_Prokhorov">Mikhail Prokhorov</a> threw the first punch when he declared his ambition to "turn Knicks fans into Nets fans" and then went with a billboard of himself and minority partner <a href="/topics/Jay-Z">Jay-Z</a> looming over the Garden on 34th and Eighth. The two franchises lost out on <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron James</a>, but now both have their sites set on trading for <a href="/topics/Carmelo_Anthony">Carmelo Anthony</a>, who is likely to be traded during the season and almost certainly by the February trade deadline. The Knicks and Nets have never really had a true rivalry on the court, but the battle for Carmelo could ratchet up the animosity between them. 
FIVE ON FIVE 
Five best players 
1. <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron</a> <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">James</a>, Heat - Reigning two-time MVP just upgraded his office. 
2. <a href="/topics/Dwight_Howard">Dwight Howard</a>, Magic - Looked even more dominant this preseason. 
3. <a href="/topics/Dwyane_Wade">Dwyane Wade</a>, Heat - How can he not be better with <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">James</a> as a wingman? 
4. <a href="/topics/Derrick_Rose">Derrick Rose</a>, Bulls - Dynamic scorer should be ready for superstar level. 
5. Amar'e Stoudemire, Knicks - Explosive finisher will get countless opportunities. 
Five underrated players 
1. <a href="/topics/Kirk_Hinrich">Kirk Hinrich</a>, Wizards - Reliable, tough guard like having a coach on the court. 
2. <a href="/topics/Andrew_Bogut">Andrew Bogut</a>, Bucks - Excellent big man coming off all-star caliber season. 
3. <a href="/topics/Stephen_Jackson">Stephen Jackson</a>, Bobcats - When his head is right, he controls the game. 
4. <a href="/topics/Al_Horford">Al Horford</a>, Hawks - Physical rebounder, unselfish teammate who could do more if asked. 
5. <a href="/topics/Brook_Lopez">Brook Lopez</a>, Nets - Polished post-game; can score at will and draw fouls. 
Five players ready for a break out 
1. <a href="/topics/Darren_Collison">Darren Collison</a>, Pacers - Actually had a breakout as a rookie, but should build on it in <a href="/topics/Indiana">Indiana</a>. 
2. <a href="/topics/Jeff_Teague">Jeff Teague</a>, Hawks - A matter of time before he takes over starting role from <a href="/topics/Mike_Bibby">Mike Bibby</a>. 
3. <a href="/topics/JaVale_McGee">JaVale McGee</a>, Wizards - Won't give much on offense, but shot-blocking skills can have huge impact. 
4. <a href="/topics/Danilo_Gallinari">Danilo Gallinari</a>, Knicks - Has no choice but to step into No. 2 scoring role and put up big numbers. 
5. <a href="/topics/Linas_Kleiza">Linas Kleiza</a>, Raptors - Back in the <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> after a year in <a href="/topics/Europe">Europe</a>, primary role means plenty of shots. 
Five rookies to watch 
1. <a href="/topics/John_Wall">John Wall</a>, Wizards - No. 1 overall pick will be Rookie of the Year candidate. 
2. <a href="/topics/Timofey_Mozgov">Timofey Mozgov</a>, Knicks - Russian secret emerged into starting center role. 
3. <a href="/topics/Derrick_Favors">Derrick Favors</a>, Nets - Dangled as Carmelo bait, so will be showcased early. 
4. <a href="/topics/Jordan">Jordan</a> Crawford, Hawks - Scored big in preseason, but vets could limit minutes. 
5. <a href="/topics/Greg_Monroe">Greg Monroe</a>, Pistons - Injuries could open up significant minutes for him. 
Five players who could be traded 
1. <a href="/topics/Gilbert_Arenas">Gilbert Arenas</a>, Wizards - Wiz want to move forward with <a href="/topics/John_Wall">Wall</a>, dump contract. 
2. <a href="/topics/Jamal_Crawford">Jamal Crawford</a>, Hawks - Looking for contract extension; Hawks can't afford it. 
3. <a href="/topics/Joe_Smith">Joe Smith</a>, Nets - Quality veteran who is better served on contender. 
4. <a href="/topics/Andre_Iguodala">Andre Iguodala</a>, 76ers - With rebuilding underway, best to dump his big contract. 
5. <a href="/topics/Elton_Brand">Elton Brand</a>, 76ers - See above. 
POWER RANKINGS 
1. <a href="/topics/Miami_Heat">Miami Heat</a> - Hamstring injuries to Wade and <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron</a> quelled the preseason anticipation, but both should be ready for opening night. Even at less than 100 percent, they're overwhelming. 
2. <a href="/topics/Orlando_Magic">Orlando Magic</a> - Destroyed teams through preseason as <a href="/topics/Dwight_Howard">Dwight Howard</a> looks dominating again. Goal is obviously to get off to a strong start to keep pace with Heat in Southeast Division. 
3. <a href="/topics/Boston_Celtics">Boston Celtics</a> - Old bones gearing up for one final run, with the young legs of <a href="/topics/Rajon_Rondo">Rajon Rondo</a> now leading the way and timeless <a href="/topics/Ray_Allen">Ray Allen</a> still running through screens. 
4. <a href="/topics/Chicago_Bulls">Chicago Bulls</a> - <a href="/topics/Carlos_Boozer">Carlos Boozer</a> injury is troublesome, but plenty of talent, led by <a href="/topics/Derrick_Rose">Derrick Rose</a>, to win Central. All eyes on career assistant <a href="/topics/Tom_Thibodeau">Tom Thibodeau</a> in his first head position. 
5. <a href="/topics/Milwaukee_Bucks">Milwaukee Bucks</a> - Loaded with players who can score, but who will facilitate? With <a href="/topics/Luke_Ridnour">Luke Ridnour</a> gone, challenge is for <a href="/topics/Brandon_Jennings">Brandon Jennings</a> to become more of a playmaker at the point. 
6. <a href="/topics/Atlanta_Hawks">Atlanta Hawks</a> - Still a playoff-caliber team, but shine starting to fade from this group and <a href="/topics/Joe_Johnson">Joe Johnson</a>'s max contract will make it difficult for Hawks to keep roster intact. 
7. <a href="/topics/Charlotte_Bobcats">Charlotte Bobcats</a> - Extremely athletic lineup, but lacking a true point guard and a post-up center, two important ingredients in <a href="/topics/Larry_Brown">Larry Brown</a>'s philosophy. Expect trade rumors to surface. 
8. <a href="/topics/New_York_Knicks">New York Knicks</a> - When they've clicked in preseason, they've looked strong; must be much more consistent, and must improve woeful shooting, if this is going to be a playoff team.

SPNBAEAST24

East will be dominated by Miami Thrice

Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade

WESTERN CONFERENCE STORYLINES 
1. WHY IT'S EASY TO ROOT FOR KEVIN DURANT 
If you happened to see any of his performances in the World Championships this summer, you'd understand. He has the superstar skill package - one-on-one moves, perimeter shooting and a post-up game - and does it all at 6-10. But the best thing about him is his personality. In a summer where <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron James</a> put narcissism on display in a one-hour special to announce his free agency decision, Durant announced via Twitter that he signed a contract extension with the Thunder. Durant is the antithesis of the typical <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> star and perhaps the best example is this: he's quite happy living in the anonymity of <a href="/topics/Oklahoma_City">Oklahoma City</a>. 
2. THE WEST IS STILL THE BEST, BUT NOT FOR MUCH LONGER 
The Lakers' repeat title last season made it the ninth time in the last 12 years that a <a href="/topics/Western_Conference">Western Conference</a> team won the <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> title. Of course we should point out here that only two franchises - the Lakers five times, the Spurs four - claimed those championships, but look at the bottom of the playoff standings for the real indicator: In the West last season, for instance, 50 games was the watermark for a berth. In the East, it was 41 wins, or a .500 record. But these things are cyclical and the East did get stronger this season with the defections of Amar'e Stoudemire (<a href="/topics/New_York_Knicks">Knicks</a>), <a href="/topics/Carlos_Boozer">Carlos Boozer</a> (Bulls) and others. For now, though, the stronger teams still reside out West. 
3. CAN ANYONE STOP THE LAKERS FROM A FOURTH STRAIGHT <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> FINALS? 
<a href="/topics/Kobe_Bryant">Kobe Bryant</a> is looking for his sixth ring, which would tie him with his idol, <a href="/topics/Michael_Jordan">Michael Jordan</a>. Who really is going to stop him? The Spurs, <a href="/topics/Dallas_Mavericks">Mavericks</a> and Suns are fading, the Rockets are overachievers, the Trail Blazers are always hurt and the Nuggets are about to trade their superstar. The only real hope to end the Laker dynasty lies in the young legs of the Thunder, who pushed Kobe and Co. to six games in the first round of the playoffs. While the other West elites are headed for rebuilding mode, the Lakers just keep reloading. The additions of <a href="/topics/Matt_Barnes">Matt Barnes</a> and <a href="/topics/Steve_Blake">Steve Blake</a> improve the bench, but, as usual, a lot rides on the physical health of Kobe and <a href="/topics/Andrew_Bynum">Andrew Bynum</a>. 
FIVE ON FIVE 
Five best players 
1. <a href="/topics/Kevin_Durant">Kevin Durant</a>, Thunder - The heir apparent for MVP and could be ready to win it. 
2. <a href="/topics/Kobe_Bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>, Lakers - Not ready to pass the torch; still <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a>'s best winner. 
3. <a href="/topics/Carmelo_Anthony">Carmelo Anthony</a>, Nuggets - Until he's traded, still one of the best talents in West. 
4. <a href="/topics/Deron_Williams">Deron Williams</a>, Jazz - With <a href="/topics/Carlos_Boozer">Carlos Boozer</a> gone, will need to do more scoring. 
5. <a href="/topics/Pau_Gasol">Pau Gasol</a>, Lakers - Looking to match Shaq's ring output with Kobe. 
Five underrated players 
1. <a href="/topics/Derek_Fisher">Derek Fisher</a>, Lakers - Proved his intangible value once again in <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> Finals. 
2. <a href="/topics/Luis_Scola">Luis Scola</a>, Rockets - Coming out party as scorer at World Championships. 
3. <a href="/topics/Marc_Gasol">Marc Gasol</a>, Grizzlies - Terrific passer out of the post and very good moves. 
4. <a href="/topics/Andre_Miller">Andre Miller</a>, Blazers - Smart floor general who can pick apart defenses. 
5. Thabo Sefalosha, Thunder - Very smart player, very good defender. 
Five players ready for a break out 
1. <a href="/topics/Eric_Gordon">Eric Gordon</a>, Clippers - Will have more freedom in offense and has explosive scoring ability. 
2. <a href="/topics/Russell_Westbrook">Russell Westbrook</a>, Thunder - Might be the best athlete in the <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a>; non-stop energy. 
3. <a href="/topics/Stephen_Curry">Stephen Curry</a>, Warriors - Should flourish with <a href="/topics/David_Lee">David Lee</a> as a pick-and-roll tandem. 
4. <a href="/topics/Nicolas_Batum">Nicolas Batum</a>, Blazers - Injuries slowed him last season, but terrific scorer and versatile forward. 
5. <a href="/topics/Rodrigue_Beaubois">Rodrigue Beaubois</a>, <a href="/topics/Dallas_Mavericks">Mavericks</a> - Can light up the scoreboard and opposing defenses with his speed. 
Five rookies to watch 
1. <a href="/topics/Blake_Griffin">Blake Griffin</a>, Clippers - Redshirt rookie has power game that will dominate. 
2. DeMarcus Cousins, Kings - Talented big man should flourish with <a href="/topics/Tyreke_Evans">Tyreke Evans</a>. 
3. <a href="/topics/Tiago_Splitter">Tiago Splitter</a>, Spurs -- Skilled Brazilian import will back up <a href="/topics/Tim_Duncan">Tim Duncan</a>. 
4. Wesley Johnson, Timberwolves -- Plenty of room to grow on this team. 
5. Xavier Henry, Grizzlies -- NBA-ready, but has to battle for minutes. 
Five players who could be traded 
1. <a href="/topics/Carmelo_Anthony">Carmelo Anthony</a>, Nuggets - Likely will endure until Feb. trade deadline. 
2. <a href="/topics/Rudy_Fernandez">Rudy Fernandez</a>, Blazers - Wants out, but must wait it out. 
3. <a href="/topics/Tony_Parker">Tony Parker</a>, Spurs - Seeking extension, Spurs may not commit 
4. <a href="/topics/Monta_Ellis">Monta Ellis</a>, Warriors - Not sure Ellis-<a href="/topics/Stephen_Curry">Stephen Curry</a> backcourt can work. 
5. <a href="/topics/Jeff_Green">Jeff Green</a>, Thunder - Seeking extension, could yield needed veteran. 
POWER RANKINGS 
1. Lakers - Two-time defending champs will open the season slightly banged up, including <a href="/topics/Kobe_Bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>, but they'll have plenty of time to get ready for a run at another Three-peat. 
2. Thunder - No longer up-and-coming, the arrival has been made. Is <a href="/topics/Kevin_Durant">Kevin Durant</a> and Co. ready to unseat the Lakers? They can get off to a fast start and, at the very least, get the top seed. 
3. <a href="/topics/Dallas_Mavericks">Mavericks</a> - How much does <a href="/topics/Jason_Kidd">Jason Kidd</a> have left in the tank? <a href="/topics/Dallas_Mavericks">The Mavs</a> are coming off yet another playoff disappointment and <a href="/topics/Dirk_Nowitzki">Dirk Nowitzki</a>'s clock is ticking. 
4. Trail Blazers- Injuries have ravaged this team, which at full health has great potential. The question is, can they ever get to full health and stay there? 
5. Rockets - <a href="/topics/Yao_Ming">Yao Ming</a> is back, but the Rockets showed last season without him they can be a scrappy, hard-working team that gets results. <a href="/topics/Aaron_Brooks">Aaron Brooks</a> is looking for an extension. 
6. Jazz - Life without <a href="/topics/Carlos_Boozer">Carlos Boozer</a> might not be so bad, as long as <a href="/topics/Paul_Millsap">Paul Millsap</a> can produce in his place. <a href="/topics/Mehmet_Okur">Mehmet Okur</a> remains out, so Jazz need <a href="/topics/Deron_Williams">Deron Williams</a> more than ever. 
7. Spurs - Another franchise in transition, as <a href="/topics/Tim_Duncan">Tim Duncan</a> passes the torch to <a href="/topics/Tiago_Splitter">Tiago Splitter</a> and <a href="/topics/Tony_Parker">Tony Parker</a> to <a href="/topics/George_Hill">George Hill</a>. But is the next era good enough to keep up the winning tradition? 
8. Nuggets - Carmelo trade talk and injury-depleted front line providing distractions, but still plenty of talent and depth here to stay in the mix. But for how long? Once <a href="/topics/Carmelo_Anthony">Melo</a> is gone, so is <a href="/topics/Denver">Denver</a>.

SPNBAWEST24

Durant's Thunder will challenge Kobe & Co. out West

<a href="/topics/Avery_Johnson">Avery Johnson</a> knows what he wants, and he isn't shy about letting people know he is going after it. 
Take the first time he saw his wife, <a href="/topics/Cassandra_Johnson">Cassandra</a>, a little more than 20 years ago on the campus of Southern University. <a href="/topics/Cassandra_Johnson">Cassandra</a>, a nursing student who had just transferred to the school, was having car problems. When Johnson offered to give her a lift, she had no idea that the 5-10, smooth-talking driver was the big man on campus, a player who had just led the <a href="/topics/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association">NCAA</a> in assists for the second straight time. 
"He told his friend after he dropped me off, 'I just gave this girl a ride, she went into that nursing building and I am going to date her,' '' <a href="/topics/Cassandra_Johnson">Cassandra Johnson</a> recalled shortly after her husband was named the Nets' coach in June. 
In similar fashion, Johnson isn't shy in declaring what attracts him to the Nets, and how he plans to transform a 12-win team that was the laughingstock of the league last season into something respectable. On the day he was hired, Johnson said he thought the team could go "from worst to first.'' After a recent practice, he was a bit more pragmatic, but he hasn't wavered from the goal. 
"What I like about this situation here is it's like a blank sheet of paper,'' Johnson said. "If this was a house, there would be no roof, no walls, no foundation. I don't know if it's more fun to start with this, but it's definitely fun. I've always been someone who embraces a challenge.'' 
As a little man in a big man's game, he's had to. 
The first thing you notice about Johnson is his voice: It's part preacher, part cartoon character. It is the voice of a self-made man, of a point guard who was discarded five times in six years before finding a home in <a href="/topics/San_Antonio">San Antonio</a>, where he helped the Spurs to the 1999 <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> championship. It is the voice of desire, of a coach who is willing to take on the worst team in the <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> in order to get back in the game two seasons after being fired by the Mavericks despite having a .735 winning percentage, the best in the NBA. 
It is also a voice that can scare the bejesus out of you, which is not a bad thing for a team like the Nets. During an interview at the end of a preseason practice, Johnson always seemed to have one eye on the practice floor and twice interrupted his train of thought to make corrections. 
"You're practicing bad habits,'' he fired off at 19-year-old <a href="/topics/Derrick_Favors">Derrick Favors</a> and another young player, who had stopped for a second to exchange words near the baseline. 
Because the Nets have a new, young team - only four players are returning from last season's squad - the organization has made a big deal out of trying to paint a picture of Johnson as a teacher rather than a disciplinarian or, dare we say it, a dictator. 
"As a teacher, you need to know when to tug and when to let go,'' Johnson said. "This team needs a lot of tugging.'' 
Said general manager Billy King: "I think he's taken a lot from what he learned in Dallas, and he's become more of a teacher and a cheerleader. <a href="/topics/Avery_Johnson">Avery</a> knows what kind of team he has here. He's trying to do here what <a href="/topics/Pat_Riley">Pat Riley</a> did with the Knicks or what Sean Payton did with the <a href="/topics/New_Orleans_Saints">New Orleans Saints</a>.'' 
Payton, who is friends with Johnson, had the newly acquired Drew Brees to help him turn around the three-win Saints in 2006. Johnson has no such superstar. Yet. 
What he does have is plenty of cap room and what the Nets believe is still a chance to land Carmelo Anthony. And he has two potentially decent pieces with which to build his foundation in center <a href="/topics/Brook_Lopez">Brook Lopez</a> and point guard <a href="/topics/Devin_Harris">Devin Harris</a>. 
He also has a desire to remake the attitude of the team, to get them to play better defense, for instance, by sheer force of will. 
What seems to bother Johnson most is when his players lose their focus, don't share his strong will to work hard and improve every moment they are on the court. As a player, Johnson was so focused that he wouldn't even have lunch with his teammates on game days. 
These days, when many players have grown up together playing in high school all-star games, it might not be possible to demand that single-minded focus. But he'll try. Just as he wasn't shy in pursuing his wife 20 years ago, Johnson isn't shy in declaring that he thinks he has the tools to turn around this team. 
Said Johnson: "The one thing I didn't want to do is come in and change my personality, because what we've done in the past works. I'm not looking to come in and be <a href="/topics/Phil_Jackson">Phil Jackson</a>. I'm <a href="/topics/Avery_Johnson">Avery</a> Johnson. And it's the only person I know how to be."

SPAVERY24

Fiery Johnson has sights set on turning around Nets

Avery Johnson Interviews Basketball

What's new?
1. The players: Three-quarters of the roster is new, headlined by five-time All-Star Amar'e Stoudemire, the marquee signing of the offseason, who considers himself the "pioneer" of the Knicks' renaissance.
2. More size: After going most of the last two seasons with 6-9 <a href="/topics/David_Lee">David Lee</a> as the center, the Knicks got taller, with the 6-10 Stoudemire, 7-1 <a href="/topics/Timofey_Mozgov">Timofey Mozgov</a> and 6-11 <a href="/topics/Anthony_Randolph">Anthony Randolph</a>.
3. Defensive emphasis: <a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Mike D'Antoni</a> has been maligned for his defensive approach, but with shot-blockers and ball-hawking guards such as <a href="/topics/Raymond_Felton">Raymond Felton</a> and <a href="/topics/Toney_Douglas">Toney Douglas</a>, the Knicks have to get better.
4. Uniforms: The <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> and adidas introduced a line with breathable, moisture-wicking material that will feel lighter for the players. Maybe the bolder colors will help the Knicks shoot better.
 
 
Things we like1. Stat city: Stoudemire has put up huge numbers in this offense. Can he carry the team by himself?
2. Shot-blocking: Look for marked improvement with <a href="/topics/Timofey_Mozgov">Mozgov</a> and Randolph.
3. Seven seconds or less: Felton was brought in to turn up the speed, which is the only way D'<a href="/topics/Mike_D%27Antoni">Antoni</a>'s system works.
 
 
Things we don't like1. Brick city. The Knicks' perimeter shooting was most alarming in the preseason; without it, defenses can focus on stopping Stoudemire.
2. 'Bound-less. With the departure of Lee as a primary rebounder, someone needs to step up.
3. Brooding Gallo. Trade rumors, poor shooting have him in a funk; Knicks need him locked in.
 
 
Circle these dates
Nov. 10: Knicks host Golden State - Former fan favorite Lee returns with his new team.
Dec. 12: Knicks host <a href="/topics/Denver">Denver</a> - <a href="/topics/Carmelo_Anthony">Carmelo Anthony</a> will be in the building, but in which jersey?
Dec. 17: Knicks host <a href="/topics/Miami">Miami</a> - <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron James</a> has always enjoyed adoration from the Garden crowd,
 but will the reception be the same this time?
Dec. 22: Knicks host <a href="/topics/Oklahoma_City">Oklahoma City</a> - Only Garden appearance for NBA's newest superstar, <a href="/topics/Kevin_Durant">Kevin Durant</a>.
Feb. 11: Knicks host Lakers - <a href="/topics/Kobe_Bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>'s annual appearance at the Garden is always a must-see.
Feb. 24: Trade deadline - If Carmelo isn't traded before now, he almost certainly will be by this day.
April 13: Knicks at <a href="/topics/Boston">Boston</a> - The final game of the regular season. Will it have playoff implications?

SPKRAIL24

Sizing up the Knicks

What's new?
Just about everything. The Nets have a new owner, a new front office and a new coaching staff. They even have a new home court; they will move from the Meadowlands to Prudential Arena in <a href="/topics/Newark">Newark</a> for at least two years while they wait for their new arena in Brooklyn to be built. Owner <a href="/topics/Mikhail_Prokhorov">Mikhail Prokhorov</a>, general manager Billy King and coach <a href="/topics/Avery_Johnson">Avery Johnson</a> won't be the only new faces. Center <a href="/topics/Brook_Lopez">Brook Lopez</a>, point guard <a href="/topics/Devin_Harris">Devin Harris</a>, power forward <a href="/topics/Kris_Humphries">Kris Humphries</a> and swingman <a href="/topics/Terrence_Williams">Terrence Williams</a> are the only holdovers from last season's 12-70 debacle. Most intriguing newcomer? Power forward Derrick <a href="/topics/Derrick_Favors">Favors</a>, the 19-year-old the Nets took with the No. 3 overall draft pick. The one new thing the Nets don't have is a superstar. They failed to land a marquee player in free agency but have plenty of money and still could make a run at soon-to-be free agent Carmelo Anthony during the season.
 
 
 
Things we like1. Center Brook Lopez. He looks like the real deal after averaging 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last season, his second in the league.
2. Rookie <a href="/topics/Derrick_Favors">Derrick Favors</a>. He looks 24, not 19.
3. Terrence Williams. He's been a sparkplug off the bench and could push for a starting position.
 
 
Things we don't like1. Who is the real Devin Harris? Is he the All-Star point guard of a few years back? Or is he the player who was injured and struggled last season?
2. Troy Murphy's back and the fact that his replacements - Kris Humphries, Favors and Joe Smith - combined to average only 12.9 points in six games.
3. The fact that the Nets still don't have a marquee player despite having boatloads of cash to dangle in front of free agents.
 
 
Circle thesedates
Oct. 31: Nets host <a href="/topics/Miami">Miami</a> - Even if he didn't choose to wear a Nets uniform, <a href="/topics/LeBron_James">LeBron James</a> can help the Nets get at least one sellout.
Nov. 20: Nets at <a href="/topics/Denver">Denver</a> - Will Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov make the trip to Denver to see Carmelo Anthony play?
Dec. 1: Nets host <a href="/topics/Oklahoma_City">Oklahoma City</a> - The Nets opened last season 0-18. This is their 19th game of the season, so it will be interesting to compare where they are.
Feb. 24: <a href="/topics/National_Basketball_Association">NBA</a> trade deadline: Where will Anthony be on this date?

SPNRAIL24

Sizing up the Nets

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